Over-the-internet availability of hormonal contraceptives regardless of risk factors

The purpose of this study is to measure the accessibility to purchase oral and transdermal contraceptives over the Internet for low- and high-risk individuals.

The Internet was used to search for and order both oral and transdermal contraceptives. Using the "Google" search engine to locate online pharmacies by entering the term "purchase contraception," we proceeded to purchase either oral contraceptives or contraceptive patches without a prescription. We first posed as a healthy 25-year-old woman, then as a 35-year-old woman who was obese and a heavy tobacco user, and finally, as a 35-year-old smoker on an antihypertensive medication.

Our attempts to order both combination oral contraceptives, as well as contraceptive patches, over the Internet without a prescription were successful for all three risk profiles. We ordered from three different Web sites, two within the United States and one international site. The two U.S. Web sites required us to complete a medical questionnaire to obtain a prescription from the site provider, but the foreign site had no questionnaire or risk information posted on the Web site. Despite entering known risk factors for estrogen use, we received all the medications. There was no medical follow-up to these sales except for offers to sell more products.

Both oral and transdermal contraceptives are easy to obtain over the Internet without a physical appointment with a health care provider to obtain a prescription.